Religious Rituals and Rites Associated with Death and Dying

on the five books of Moses, called the Torah. The Jewish representative is known as the rabbi. Their Sabbath is observed from sunset Friday until after sunset Saturday and is a day of prayer, rest and study. Services are held on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings. Orthodox and Conservative Jews do not believe in autopsies. They believe that a person near death should not be left alone. They do not believe in embalming. Therefore, if possible, the funeral is held before sundown on the day the patient expires. They do not believe in burial on the Sabbath and certain holidays. To read about the Traditional Jewish Autopsy Procedure click on this link.

The Reform group of Jews is a modern group that has often made changes in their rituals.

I have found that when faced with eminent death, most people will seek spiritual guidance and be comforted by a visit from their priest, minister or rabbi. Most people do not wish to be alone, and many that had little faith, were agnostic, or even atheistic turn to look for a Higher Power the closer they get to their final exit.

References

Becker, Betty Glore.
Hassler, Sister Ruth Ann Vocational and personal adjustments in practical nursing. Second Edition
Saint Louis: The C. V. Mosby Company,
1974 Chapter 6, p. 72.

Copyright 2001 by Teresa A. Robbins. All rights reserved. Copying or distribution via linking, mailing list, disk, or any other form is prohibited under Copyright Law without express written permission of the author.

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